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Space....the other kind | Pad Patter 2.4

I'm a preschool teacher, so I have to be fine with having no personal space, LOL. I tend to give people space, but it doesn't bother me if people invade mine. What I need much more than personal space is alone time, preferably when everyone else is sleeping or away from home so that I can have no people, no noise, and no interruptions. Spending all day with people drains me.
 
Crowds in general don't bother me. Crowding me in a line at a business does.

Hugs from people I know (family, friends) are fine. Hugs from people I'm barely acquainted with - awkward!

In general, I do like a bit of personal space around me. I don't like people looking over my shoulder when I'm reading or working on something or on the computer.
 
This is so funny to read... I love the "here comes the perv" Timmi! @bbymks5 I might need to teach my hubby that too. Mostly I'm fine with personal space, because most people I know don't get into my space... except my hubby. Oy! He's is KING of disregarding my discomfort with this invasions of my personal space. In fact I tell him all the time that I think he isn't happy until he's pushed it a little too far. Lol. Weirdo.
 
I think I probably have an amazing RBF + I never make eye contact in public so I don't have any trouble with people approaching me or trying to talk to me. If I'm in public, chances are at least my 3yo is with me, if not my 8yo, too, and his loud running monologue and 3-year-old-ness keeps most people away (although they enjoy watching & chuckling from afar).

My secondary love language is touch so I don't mind being touched or hugged, either.

The only time I struggle with personal space is when I'm sleeping. We downgraded from a king to a queen (by necessity not choice) which means DH & I have to sleep touching if we're both on our backs. I haaaaaaaate being touched (or even breathed on) when I'm sleeping. My son makes it worse when he crawls into bed between us and literally sleeps on top of me for the last couple hours before the alarm goes off.
 
michelepixels said:
It's usually not something I think about, so I guess with people I know, they can get as close as they want. I do love hugs, though I'm not good at initiating them.

However, occasionally a stranger will stand too close and I find myself thinking, whoa, too close, and I back up a step.
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This!

I have noticed that as I have gotten older, I do tend to want more personal space for myself.
 
Right!! It's like they're stage 5 cling-ons!! Get away, back up!!

Karen said:
This is so funny to read... I love the "here comes the perv" Timmi! @bbymks5 I might need to teach my hubby that too. Mostly I'm fine with personal space, because most people I know don't get into my space... except my hubby. Oy! He's is KING of disregarding my discomfort with this invasions of my personal space. In fact I tell him all the time that I think he isn't happy until he's pushed it a little too far. Lol. Weirdo.
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Oh my!!!! I guess I am weird!!! PLEASE, invade my personal space. I LOVE people. I LOVE hugs!! I LOVE meeting complete strangers in public and striking up a conversation!! If someone butts up against me in line, I just turn around and start a conversation with them. BUT--I will warn someone that I am a hugger, giving them a chance to tell me that they are not!! I respect that. And I don't invade others space because I realize not everyone is crazy like me!!!
 
I'd say it's age @NancyP but I've been pretty much the same way all my life. My eldest always jokes that I'd talk to a lamppost and yes, I'm a hugger and don't mind being touched. Actually I like it! So when I see you, give me a hug, ok?

Even though I've lived in places where there was a lot of danger, I still have a sense of inner safety. The only time I can think of feeling that my personal space gets crossed is with a man dh & I know and like. He stands very close to me and most everyone I've seen him with. I tend to take a step backwards and he steps forward. For me it's conscious but I think for him it's unconscious. I've "played with him' doing a little step at a time dance backwards to see if he'll just keep following me but usually by step 3 he's finishing what he had to say. He probably thinks I'm rather cold! :eyeroll

btw, living in the Middle East was where personal space was the closest. People tended to have their bodies almost touching when face to face. I find that interesting when you consider the restrictions of interaction between the sexes, mostly in the Arab populations.
 
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